Improvement in planters, cultivators, and stalk-choppers



3Sheets--SheetL l. L. MCCALEB.

Planters, Cultivators, and Stalk-Choppers.

ATTORNEYS.

3Sheets--Sheer2. I. L. McCALEB.- Planters, Cultivatnrs, and Stalk-Choppers. No.|50,77l. Patented May12,\s74.

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3 Sheets--Sheet 3.

1. L.y MccALEB. Planters, Cultivaturs, and Stalk-Choppers.

`10.150,771. Patented Maj/12,1874.

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UNITED STATES PATENT @Erica JOHN L. MCCALEB, OF ATASCOSA, TEXAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,7?1, dated May 12,1874; application filed December 1, 1873.

To all whom it may concern.' Y

Be it known that I, JOHN L. MGGALEB, of Atascosa, in the county of Bexar and State of rIexas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Combined Planter, Cultivator, and Chopper, of which the following is a specication:

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a top view of my im proved machine arranged as a planter, part being broken away to show the construction. Fig. 2, Sheet 1, is a side view of the same, partly in section, to show the construction. Fig. 3, Sheet 2,-is a top view of my improved machine arranged as a cultivator. Fig. at,Y

Sheet 2, is a side view of the same, part being broken away to show the construction. Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a top view of my improved machine arranged as a chopper. Fig. 6, Sheet 3, is a side view of the same. y

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention will lirst be fully described, and subsequently pointed out in claim.

-A are wheels, which revolve upon journals formed upon the axle B at a little distance from its ends. In the middle part of the axle B is `formed a bow or arch,.so that it may readily pass over tall plants without breaking or injuring them. C are beams, the forward ends of which are secured to the axle B close to theends of the arch or bow formed upon the middle part of said axle. The beams C pass back parallel with each other, and at right angles with the axle B for a short distance, and are then bent outward at an obtuse angle, as shown inV Figs. 1, 3, and 5. The rear parts ofthe beams C are held in their proper relative positions by 'an arch or bow, D, the ends of which are secured to said beams at or near their bend or angle. E are the handles, the forward ends of which are .inserted and secured to the top of the bow or arch of the axle B by a loop, keeper, or other convenient means. The rear parts of the handles E are` connected by a round, F, and are held at the proper elevation by the U-shaped brace G, to the ends of which they are attached, and the bow or bend of which is secured to the top of ,the bow or arch D. To the outer and inner ends of the horizontal parts of the axle B are pivoted hooks H, to receive the ends of 'the chains I. The outer ends of the chains I are attached to the ends of the draft-bars J. The inner chains I may be crossed, as shown in Figs. l and 5, or straight, as shown in Fig. 3. The furrow'is opened to receive the seed by vthe plows K, which are bolted to the lower ends of the standards L, the upper ends of which have eyes formed upon them to receive the end parts of the axle B, upon which the said standards L swing. The draft-strain upon the standards L is sustained by the chains M, the rear ends of which are secured to the said standards L, and their forward ends are provided with hooks, to hook into the links of the chains' I, so that by adjusting the said hooks the inclination of the standards L, and consequently the depth to which the plows K enter the ground, may be regulated at will. N are longitudinal shafts, the forward ends of which work in sockets formed in the rear side of the end parts of the axle B, and their rear ends work in sockets in the end parts of the beams C. O are bevel-gear wheels keyed to forward parts of the shafts N, and the teeth of which mesh into the teeth of one or the other of the bevel-gear wheels l? attached to the wheels A,

according as a greater or less speed is to be given to the shafts N. To the rear end of the shaft N is attached a cylinder, Q, and a bevelgear wheel, It. In the outer part of the cylinder O are formed one or more cavities, to receive corn and other smooth seeds from the hopper S, and transfer it to the bottom of the furrow through the conductorspcnt T. In the chine is to be used for planting cotton, is adjusted to bring its slot over the inner part of the said cylinders. The hopper S is provided with a brush or other suitable cut-off, A", to prevent the cylinder O from carrying out any more seed than enough to ll its droppingcavities, so that the seed may be dropped uni i per SV stirred up, and to cause the seed to pass freely to the dropping-cylinder Q. Y are the covering-plows, which may be made in the form of half-shovels, or of any other` suitablel form, and which are attached to the lower ends of the standards Z. The standards Z have square holes'formed in their upper ends to it upon the beams (l, are placed one in front and one in rear of the hopper S, and are secured in place adjustably by set-screws, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In adjusting the machine for use as a culti vater, the furrowing-plows K L, the shafts N, and hoppers S, and their attachments, are detached, and three or more standards, Z, provided with suitable plows, are placed yupon each ofthe beams C. In this case I prefer to place half-shovel plows Y upon the standards Z attached to the parallel parts of the beams C, and scooters A or shovels upon the Vstandards Z attached to the inclined parts of said beams C.Y To the rear ends of the beams C Y are detachably attached standards B', having the gear-wheel O is moved back, so that its teeth may mesh into the teeth of the larger gear-wheel P, to give the said shaft a more rapid motion. Upon the middle part of the shafts N are keyed hubs D', to each of which are attached the inner ends of four (more or less) spokes, E', which are slightly curved forward, and to their outer ends are attached cutters F', the blades of which project forward nearly at right angles with the spokes E.

By this construction, as the machine is drawn forward the cutters F will chop the cotton to a stand. The distance apart of the cuts may be regulated by varying the number of spokes E or of teeth in the gear-wheel P.

The plants may be cultivated at the same time that the chopping is done by attaching standards Z to the inclined parts ot' the beams G in front and rear of the shafts N, which standardsZ may be provided with half-shovel plows, Y, or other suitable kind of plows.

With this adjustment the machine will chop and cultivate two rows of plants at the same time.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The combination, with arched axle B, having ratchet-wheels A A, of the obtuse-angled bars C C, having their ends extended laterally beyond wheels A A, supported at the ends by wheels C C', and spaced by arched piece G, as described, to enable the frame to receive the seeding devices or cultvators or choppers, in the manner specied.

. JOHN L. MCGALEB.

Witnesses:

ALcrDn WrLLo, VIRGIL A. JOHNSON. 

